Banking concentration in the Baltic and Western Balkan states — selected issues

Abstract

Research background: In a rapidly changing economic environment companies deepen their cooperation, which occurs in all sectors of the economy. The progressive increase in market concentration, especially in the banking sector, is caused by various reasons. Purpose of the article: The purpose of this article is to compare the tendencies within market structures in few countries which origin from similar political systems and which have got experience in transformation of banking sectors. Methods: The research concerns the Baltic and the Western Balkan States. Concentration of the banking sectors, as measured by both HHI and CR5 indices changed during the quoted period, as a result of the consolidation of the sector. The study revealed a distinct change in the growth rate of market concentration and the number of banks, and is based on data provided by the local central banks and the European Central Bank. Findings and Value added: The situation in banking sectors in the Western Balkans differed significantly, which could be explained by strong economic ties, particularly with Germany and Austria. In this region, the raising concentration of the banking markets is related to the decreasing number of banks, while in the Sea Baltic States the increasing number of institutions is accomplished by the falling concentration ratio.  The paper concerns the developments of the banking sectors which are not yet well described and do not belong to the mainstream of research in the Polish literature, meaning the region of the Western Balkans.